Teen driving behavior most risky when they're alone, survey says

A just-released national survey by Bridgestone Americas found young drivers change their behavior for the better even when driving with friends. They are on their best behavior driving with mom or dad.

Contrary to what some believe, teens may drive more carefully in front of their peers than when they're alone, according to a new national survey by Bridgestone Americas. Friends calm their behavior down — and parents even more so.

“Parents have a huge responsibility. Parents are at the top of the list where teens get their habits.”

Kristin Robinson

COUPEVILLE, Wash. — Mason Lamb knows all the rules as he drives to school each day. Rules like no texting or racing. Buckle up. If he gets caught speeding, his mom Debbie Lamb has promised to yank his license for three months. When he drives friends, he's been reminded that their lives are in his hands.

It is unlikely that the 18-year-old always drives as careful as she hopes, his mom admits. She counts on the fact that the area is rural, the distance not great, the young driver a good kid. But she also knows the rules, she said. Occasionally, she breaks them.

"We're not perfect," she says, half smile, half sigh in her voice.

There are heartening indications that teens are getting the message that distracted driving is dangerous. A just-released national survey by Bridgestone Americas found young drivers change their behavior for the better even when driving with friends. They are on their best behavior driving with mom or dad.

That's the good news. The bad news is they're still doing things they know are not wise, said the teen driver survey, which had support from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The survey found that a "striking" 95 percent of teens read texts and emails when they're driving by themselves — a number that drops to 32 percent around their friends and clear to 7 percent when they are with their parents.

Similarly, 9 in 10 post to friends while they drive alone, compared to 29 percent when they're with friends and 5 percent with parents. Three-fourths say they have watched a video when driving alone, compared to 45 percent when with peers and 7 percent with parents.

In fact, at least three-fourths of the young drivers also admit to browsing social media sites, taking pictures, editing and posting those pictures, and other behaviors. Asked whether such behaviors are acceptable, the numbers in each category dropped well below 10 percent.

Still dangerous

The next step is to move the needle from knowing better to doing better, said Kristin Robinson, a Bridgestone spokesperson. She believes there's reason to hope that's beginning to happen. Last year's survey found "teens still in denial," she noted. They justified texting and other risky activities while driving as not being a big deal.

The new survey included 2,065 drivers ages 16 to 21 who were asked their perceptions of their own driving, how much they participate in both digital and other types of distractions and their perceptions on several driving-related topics.

The 2013 response stands out, she said, "because it changes to when and in front of whom texting is acceptable. They recognize it's not as socially acceptable. ... I grew up during the seat belt campaign and it reminds me of then. It's a no-brainer now you need to put your seat belt on, and I think we're going that way with distracted driving."

While three-fourths of the young drivers surveyed said the don't mind being disconnected from the digital world while driving, a lot of them don't disconnect, at least part of the time, the report showed. Their rationale for participating in distractions while driving included "I take extra precautions to make sure I don't get too distracted" (63 percent), "I have to. Life is just too busy" (17 percent) and the twin excuses that I do it a lot and nothing has happened and I'm a safer driver than everyone else (both at 15 percent). Nearly half cited the No. 2 rationale, "I don't believe I get too distracted while driving."

Monkey see

The other really striking finding in the survey is how much influence parents have on how teens drive and what habits they form. Asked where their driving habits originated, 63 percent said parents or guardians. Next closest was 16 percent who credited or blamed a driving school outside of high school, 8 percent in a driving school within high school, and 4 percent an older sibling. It dwindles from there.

Popular Comments

Maybe its time to pass laws and legislation to limit what cell phones can and
can't do. The need to define some elements of cell phones as spy gear and
illegal, and not practical for the safety of the user and others within the
vicinity of the
More..

2:13 a.m. April 23, 2013

Top comment

george of the jungle

goshen, UT

Make good habits, because it's your habits is what will bring you home.

5:53 a.m. April 23, 2013

Top comment

Brave Sir Robin

San Diego, CA

As a retired teenager myself, I can promise you that this was not true in my
case.

Lois M. Collins is a reporter and columnist for the Deseret News. While she writes primarily on health and family issues for the national and news sections, she also writes a biweekly column and her work appears often in more ..